Classroom Gamification

What young person doesn’t love a game?

The challenge, the need to think deeply and critically, the competition – it’s exciting and addictive.

In today’s educational climate it has become more important than ever to use every tool at our disposal to engage young people in their learning. Yes, even if that means using elements from games to teach students. While on the surface gamification may sound gimicky, well-designed gamification leads students to deep learning while having fun and being positively affirmed at the same time.

Across many sectors, gamification – creating experiences with elements of a game such as competing with others, keeping score and following rules – is being used. In an educational context, gamification is so important in helping students to learn through game and play.

Through well-planned activities, students are encouraged to engage in their learning and solve problems. Gamification challenges students to join the teacher in creating learning activities, to continue trying to succeed, receive instant feedback and rewards for achievement, and allows plenty of practice to improve their skills.

When technology is added to classroom gamification, student engagement in their learning is increased.

Classroom gamification works.

Many students are naturally competitive, and this is the reason why using gamification in the classroom has the ability to stretch students to better their skills and learning. In this context, students are less likely to settle for ‘near enough is good enough’ thinking.

With features such as award systems or inbuilt badges for achievements, gamification motivates students by reinforcing positive behaviours around learning. When students feel good about learning, they feel good about themselves and therefore, have a greater chance at recalling knowledge during testing.

An online cloud application that enables games to be played to help students learn. It is a program used throughout the world and is engaging students everywhere. Students have the opportunity to create their own games enabling them to connect more authentically with their own learning.

A social learning network. It connects learners throughout the world and provides resources that help students everywhere, to learn. Using resources that engage students and by having the ability to communicate with someone on the other side of the world, Edmodo allows students positive learning behaviours to be affirmed through achieving badges. Edmodo applies this to a learning context.